Miguel Cabrera · Biography

Miguel Cabrera won his first title in October 2003, when the Florida Marlins beat the New York Yankees in six games in the World Series, four months after his major league debut. José Miguel Cabrera Torres was born on April 18, 1983, in Maracay, in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. A right-handed hitter, he played third base, first base and the outfield before becoming a designated hitter. He spent 21 seasons in the majors, five with the Marlins and sixteen with the Detroit Tigers, and played his last game on October 1, 2023.

Early years in Aragua

Cabrera grew up in Maracay and as a teenager entered a baseball school in Cagua, also in Aragua. On July 2, 1999, he signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent; the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers had also pursued him. That December he recorded his first professional hit with Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League. In the Marlins system he started at shortstop in the Gulf Coast League in 2000 and was later moved to third base, the position he settled into at Jupiter in 2002.

Debut and a World Series with Florida

Cabrera reached the majors on June 20, 2003, and ended his first game with a walk-off home run against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He finished the season as a regular in the Marlins lineup and, in Game 4 of the World Series against the Yankees, hit a two-run home run off Roger Clemens. Florida won the series in six games. Over the following years he played mostly in left and right field before moving to the infield in 2006, and he was selected to the All-Star Game every year from 2004 to 2007. He also won Silver Slugger awards in 2005 and 2006.

Trade to Detroit

On December 5, 2007, the Marlins traded Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for six players, among them Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. In March 2008 Detroit signed him to an eight-year, $152.3 million extension. In his first season with the Tigers he moved to first base and led the American League with 37 home runs. He returned to the All-Star Game in 2010 and won his first batting title in 2011.

The 2012 Triple Crown

In 2012 Cabrera moved back to third base. He finished the year with a.330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 runs batted in, leading the American League in all three categories. It was the first Triple Crown in the majors since Carl Yastrzemski won it with Boston in 1967. Cabrera was named American League MVP, and Detroit won the pennant after sweeping the Yankees in the ALCS, before being swept in turn by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. In 2013 he won a second straight MVP award and a third consecutive batting title.

The long contract and the milestones

In March 2014 the Tigers signed him to an eight-year, $248 million extension which, added to what remained of his previous deal, made for a ten-year commitment worth $292 million. That year he returned to first base. He won his fourth batting title in 2015, added Silver Sluggers in 2015 and 2016 for a career total of seven, and by 2019 had become a full-time designated hitter. On August 22, 2021, he hit his 500th home run, off Steven Matz of the Toronto Blue Jays. On April 23, 2022, he singled off Antonio Senzatela of the Colorado Rockies for his 3,000th hit. That summer he was chosen for his twelfth All-Star Game.

Career totals

Cabrera played his last game on October 1, 2023. He retired with a.306 batting average, 511 home runs, 3,174 hits and 1,881 runs batted in. His record includes the 2003 World Series, the 2012 Triple Crown, MVP awards in 2012 and 2013, four batting titles (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015), twelve All-Star selections and seven Silver Slugger awards.

With Venezuela

Cabrera played for Venezuela in five editions of the World Baseball Classic between 2006 and 2023. In May 2025 he was named hitting coach of the national team for the 2026 tournament, on Omar López’s staff. On March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Venezuela beat the United States 3-2 in the final to win its first World Baseball Classic.